The Next Few Months From Start To Finish

[c12schleyer]

Trade

AJ McCarron will be a starting QB in the state of Ohio next season… but it will be in Cleveland.  The Bengals trade McCarron and their 4th round pick for the Browns 2nd and 4th round picks this year.  So this is what the trade would look like.

Browns Get:
McCarron
Bengals 4th round pick

Bengals Get:
Browns 2nd round pick
Browns 4th round pick
 
Free Agency
 
Re-Sign:
Adam Jones
Mo Sanu
George Iloka
Brandon Thompson (PUP Status)
Pat Sims
Wallace Gilberry
Leon Hall



Let Walk:
Reggie Nelson
Emmanuel Lamur
Andre Smith
Eric Winston
Brandon Tate
Marvin Jones
TJ Johnson
Vinny Rey

 
Outside Signings:
Mark Barron
Brandon Boykin
 

Draft

1st Round
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame – 6’2” 235 lbs.
 


Jaylon Smith gives us the best LB prospect in this draft.  Without injury there is no way he would have fallen to us late in the first… but lucky for us he is here for the taking.  Smith gives us a well rounded, prototypical LB to play with Burfict long term. 
 

2nd Round
Kenny Clark – DT – UCLA – 6’3” 310 lbs.
 


Clark is an impactful, run stuffing defender.  However he can also produce a pass rush when needed.  With 75 tackles, 11 TFL and 6 sacks last season, we are getting the strong DT to play with Atkins.
 

2nd Round
Will Fuller – WR – Notre Dame – 6’0” 184 lbs.



Fuller is probably the best WR in this draft when it comes to stretching a defense.  He has the ability to take the top off, opening up underneath/seam routes for Sanu and Eifert.  He would be the perfect complement to Green and the rest of the crew.  Someone is going to throw big (#1) money at Jones this FA, this is the best option to replace him.
 

3rd  Round
Jalen Mills – S/CB – LSU – 6’0” 194 lbs.
 



Mills gives us the type of player needed to replace Nelson long term.  With Iloka and Williams both back, it gives Mills the time necessary to learn the defense and grow as an NFL safety.  He is extremely athletic and versatile. In college he played both safety and corner, showing he has the ability to be a playmaker on the back end and play in coverage.
 

4th  Round
Maliek Collins – DT – Nebraska – 6’2” 300 lbs.
 



Maliek Collins is a first round talent on a less than stellar Nebraska defense.  If Collins would have put his name in the 2015 draft, he very well could have been taken as a first or second round pick.  However, because he had a decline in production this year, we get a player with immense potential in the top of the fourth.
 

5th round
Kei’Varae Russell – CB – Notre Dame - 5’11” 190 lbs.
 


Russell, much like Collins, would have been a steal in the second or third last year, let alone the fifth.  His lack of production really hurt his stock.  He has some work to do to be ready for the NFL, but with our group of CBs around him, I am confident he can grow.


6th Round
Cody Kessler – QB – USC – 6’1” 210 lbs.
 



Dalton 3.0 (McCarron was Dalton 2.0).  Kessler is almost a carbon copy of our Red Rifle.  I am confident that Kessler can be the backup QB of this team for a number of years.


7th Round
Kyle Friend – C – Temple – 6’2” 305 lbs.


 
Bodine was the weak link on an otherwise great Oline.  A lot of people are wanting an early round center, but Friend late in the draft gives us the best C prospect in this draft.  Watch his film, the man was highly impressive in every game he played this year and last.  Excited for this guy!